Our Stories

As a registered nurse in the PACU at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center in Las Vegas, Jennie Willis had spent her career caring for patients. But after experiencing multiple miscarriages, she found herself facing an uncertain journey of her own. Becoming pregnant with her third child felt like a blessing. At 24 weeks, Jennie learned her baby was not receiving enough blood and nutrients through the placenta. She was admitted to MountainView Hospital, where her care team focused on giving her baby as much time as possible to grow.

At 26 weeks and three days, Jennie delivered Zoe by C-section. Zoe weighed just 1 pound, 7 ounces and spent more than four months in the NICU. Jennie and her husband balanced time at the hospital with caring for their two older children. Eventually, she returned to work while Zoe was still hospitalized, visiting her daughter during breaks and returning to the NICU after her shifts.

As the weeks stretched into months, the financial pressure grew. The family was relying on one income, medical bills were arriving and repeated trips to the hospital added expenses. A nurse at MountainView told Jennie about the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund and encouraged her to apply.

Jennie was trying to determine which bills she could afford to pay when she noticed a deposit from the Hope Fund in her account. The assistance helped with household and medical expenses and gave her family stability during an uncertain time. Today, Zoe is home and thriving. Jennie wants colleagues to know that accepting help means allowing your work community to support you in a time of need. She encourages colleagues to apply when they need assistance and contribute when they can, helping provide hope for others.